Obama's approval rating continues to dip

Just months ahead of the United States' midterm elections, a new poll has found that President Barack Obama's approval rating has matched his previous low of 44 percent.

According to the CBS News Poll, Obama's rating is down 24 points from his high of 68 percent reached in April 2009.

His approval rating is also similar to those of former presidents Bill Clinton (42 percent) and Ronald Reagan (42 percent) at comparable times in their presidencies, and slightly higher than Jimmy Carter's 38 percent.

As is traditionally the case, these three presidents -- Reagan, Clinton and Carter -- saw their party lose seats in the midterm elections during their first term.

History also shows that the condition of the country's economy has been critical to the success and failure of many presidents.

Earlier, it had emerged that Obama was being told by White House aides that there are certain areas of the country where he is being advised not to visit because his approval rating and the local political environment is too hostile.

The Democrats currently fear that they will lose 60 seats in the House of Representatives this year. They may also lose their majority in the Senate.

The midterm elections will be held on November 2. All 435 seats in the US House of Representatives, and 36 of the 100 seats in the US Senate will be contested in this election along with 38 state and territorial governorships, many state legislatures, four territorial legislatures and numerous state and local races.